Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Tennessee College Selects Designers for $72M Renovation Project

  • By Matt Jones
  • 10/10/24

Tennessee College of Applied Tech Memphis (TCAT Memphis) in Memphis, Tenn., recently announced that it has approved documents from DLR Group and 4FDesign for an upcoming multi-phased renovation project, a news release reports. DLR Group previously completed the college’s 2020 TCAT Statewide Master Plan Update. The project will cost an estimated $72 million, an allocation from state governor Bill Lee’s “Tennessee: Leading the Nation Agenda” initiative providing a $1-billion investment in technology colleges.

The campus replacement project will take place across multiple phases, according to the news release. An existing 115,000-square-foot building will be replaced with a new construction of 85,000 square feet. The project also involves building a new 35,000-square-foot one-story high-bay lab and classroom structure and the renovation of two existing buildings, as well as improvements to site development, parking areas, drives, and infrastructure.

“Embarking on this multi-phased renovation project for TCAT Memphis is an opportunity to lead the community in health and science pathways and increase visibility around TBR’s [the Tennessee Board of Regents’] initiatives,” said Benjamin R. Strain, AIA, LEED AP, Principal and Higher Education Design Leader at DLR Group. “The first phase of the campus replacement project will shine a beacon on TCAT Memphis.”

DLR Group will serve as the Design Architect and 4FDesign the Architect of Record. The project is currently in the Construction Documentation (CD) process.

“With 40 years of experience working on TBR and State of TN projects, 4FDesign brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record to every project,” said Curt Pierce, AIA NCARB, LAI, ULI, 4FDesign Vice President and Principal. “TCAT Memphis is a moment for 4FDesign to ensure the college and Tennessee state keeps pace with career-fueled economies by revitalizing its Career Technical Education (CTE) program with new construction.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • Agricultural Sciences Complex

    Agricultural Sciences Complex

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The College of Western Idaho's Agricultural Sciences Complex has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of New Construction.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey

    Spaces4Learning recently launched the 2026 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey, which collects data on the previous year’s K–12 and higher education construction projects nationwide.

  • Architectural Power for the Modern Campus Landscape

    For generations, an outdoor classroom only required a textbook and a patch of grass. Today, not only has the laptop replaced the printed pages, the rise of agile learning has turned campuses into study halls with students listening to lectures and researching topics from quads, gardens, and plazas. The challenge for architects and facility managers is to provide connectivity without cluttering the landscape with visual eyesores or creating safety hazards with extension cords.